Living Psalms Book
Psalms in the form of words and art, reborn in the specific contexts of our world, privileging the voices of historically marginalized communities and those acting in solidarity with them.

Living Psalm 22:1-15—Pentecost 20

A Plea for Deliverance from Suffering and Hostility

God our Creator, why have you forsaken us? Why have you dismissed our cries for help and ignored the words of groaning from our heartbreak?

We are crying day and night and receive no answer from you. Our sleepless nights are fraught with concerns for our lives and for those around we love and care for. 

Where are you in the midst of our pain and suffering, in these days when we cannot find breath, in these days when breath is taken from our bodies by violence?

Where are you as the pandemics of life consume our lives and destroy our communities? Where are you as this planet we call home is warming and our waters are rising to overtake our cities? 

Where are you as our children cry for their parents and millions roam the earth needing safe places to live, clean water to drink, and opportunities to make a living wage?

Our Ancestors trusted you and you delivered them from enslavement, colonization, genocide and poverty. They cried to you and they were saved. They trusted in you and you refused to see them shamed because they were oppressed and labelled as different.

Here we are. Many are cast aside because of their skin tones, their race, their culture and what they believe. We are human beings, not animal to work the fields. We are human beings, to be loved and not mistreated. We are human beings being to be respected and not mocked by those who deem those made in your image less than human.

God of love, we trust in you, while others jeer our commitments to you, disbelieving that you will deliver us from pain and adversity around us.

You kept us safe even before our birth. We have been in your care as our parents nurtured and cared for us. Come closer to us, for trouble is near and only you can help.

Deliver us O God from the injustices and oppression which ravage our world. Mend our broken hearts. Restore joy to us as we wait on you for deliverance from the suffering upon us.

Living Psalm 22: 1-15, for Pentecost 20 B, was written by Karen Georgia Thompson.

Living Psalms Book is created by UCC Witness & Worship Artists’ Group, a Network of UCC connected artists, activists and ministers bridging the worship and liturgy of the local church with witness and action in the community.  

Logo is detail from Living Psalm 80 by Sophia Beardemphl, Redwoods, CA. Recovering from significant bullying, Sophia, age nine, read Psalm 80 and  thought of brokenness that needs mending. She drew this broken and mended bowl.

© Copyright 2021 Karen Georgia Thompson.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.